Design and Technology at Madame Tussauds

The process at Madame Tussauds

Every wax figure at Madame Tussauds goes through the same process:

Research
First our researchers will have to conduct research into which celebrity would make an interesting addition to Madame Tussauds. Then they need to find out as much as possible about the celebrity. They build up a picture of how the celebrity is seen by the public. This will help decide how the wax figure should stand, what their facial expression should be and what they should be wearing.

Design
Then the celebrity will come in for a sitting. Detailed measurements and photographs of them are taken.

Planning
Using all the information from the researchers and from the celebrity sitting, the sculptors plan the wax figure. A steel skeleton is made for the body of the wax figure from the measurements.

Then the sculptor creates a clay model of the celebritys head. Sculptors form the shape of the body over the steel skeleton using clay. Separate plaster moulds are then made of the head and body. A hot wax mixture is poured into the mould and left to cool and harden. The mould is carefully removed, leaving a cast of the wax figure. The head cast is then attached to the body. Teeth, hair and eyes are added to the figure and colour is applied to the wax skin using oil based paints. Paint is applied in layers, creating a realistic skin colour and texture. The wardrobe assistant helps with dressing the wax figure and the final touches. The finished figure is now ready to display at Madame Tussauds.

Making

Madame Tussauds sculptors use steel, clay and wax to create our figures. These materials are carefully chosen for their properties, which make them especially useful for this kind of work.

Materials at Madame Tussauds

Activity 1
Can you match these materials to their properties?

Materials
Glass Metal Clay Wax Sponge Plaster

Properties
Transparent Melts easily Absorbant Mouldable Sets quickly Strong

Worksheet 1

Justin Timberlake

Research and plan a new exhibit for Madame Tussauds

Research and planning are very important to Madame Tussauds. Making a wax figure is an expensive process, so it is important that Madame Tussauds visitors will be interested in the celebrity and that they will be famous for some time. Here are just some of the celebrity wax figures you can find at Madame Tussauds. As you can see there are a wide range of personalities and talents represented at the attraction.

Albert Einstein

Barack Obama

Activity 1
Imagine that you have been asked by the design team at Madame Tussauds to research, plan and market a new wax figure or group of wax figures for the attraction, that will specifically appeal to somebody of your age-group.

David Beckham

a b

Design a short questionnaire (no more than five questions) which you will use to survey your classmates on which celebrities they are most interested in and why. Conduct your survey. You should speak to at least five of your classmates to make sure you have a large enough set of results.

Angelina Jolie

Activity 2
Design a poster to be displayed around London, advertising Madame Tussauds, with the new wax figure/s you have researched as the lead attraction/s.

Princes Harry and William

Worksheet 2

Costume at Madame Tussauds

At Madame Tussauds, it is a tradition that the celebrity who has had a wax figure made of them donates his or her own clothes. This makes the figure more authentic. Sometimes this is not possible (for example, when a celebrity is a historical figure and is no longer alive like Henry VIII) and we will have to make the costumes.

Here are two of our wax figures in costume. You will use these images to help you in your design and make activity on the next sheet.

Worksheet 3

Design and make assignment

Imagine that you work for a high street fashion store that wants to create a value version of one of the outfits worn by the celebrity wax figures shown on Worksheet 3. Using the images on Worksheet 3, you are going to plan the product for the store.

Activity 1 Plan
a
Choose the materials you are going to make the piece of clothing from. Think about which materials will make a good copy of the celebrity outfit without being too expensive remember that your version of the item will be for mass production. Draw out a pattern for your item of clothing. Patterns are paper templates you pin to fabric and cut round. Make sure a seam allowance is included. This is usually 1.5cm.

Activity 2 Plan
You are now going to make your product. Before you begin: Make sure that you have the right materials and equipment. Make sure you know how to use the equipment safely and that you have the skills to do so. Think about the techniques you will use for your task. (ie: What kind of stitching will you use? Will you use darts? What kind of seams will you use?) Think about health and safety is your workspace clear? Are any machines you are going to use in good condition?

Activity 3 Evaluate
Evaluate your DMA against the following criteria: Was the choice of materials good (if you made the product rather than a prototype)? Could the method you used be improved? Which aspects of the process were you pleased with? Does your product work / look good / could it be improved?

Worksheet 4